Struggling Over Triggers And Treatments

Those who struggle with the vascular condition known as migraine headaches can be sure of one thing: there is no cure. The only relief that can had is from avoiding triggers which cause the migraine chain reaction and utilizing a migraine treatment plan that will help to minimize the symptoms and the frequency of the migraine itself. But how can one overt such a common thing as triggers? You see, triggers for migraines could be anything from bright light to loud noises to smells or physiological causes like: fatigue, hunger, stress and even emotional trauma. Some physicians say that the only way to stop migraine is to avoid trigger but if that was the case then you have to be a hermit. However, other doctors have concluded that the adding a migraine treatment option to the person’s routine can vastly affect the outcome of the relief sought after.

Sleep
Who knew that sleep was so valuable? Sleep plays a vital role in the onset of a migraine headache. Quality and adequate sleep time are deterrents of a migraine attack. If you have ever suffered from a severe migraine attack you know the amount of pain and limitation one can have on an individual and that sleep is difficult in the midst of a migraine attack. Taking the time to perfect snoozing habits will help reduce the effect migraines can have on yourself.

Weather
Personally, I suffer from weather triggered migraine headaches and right now, we want to briefly go over the role weather can play on migraines occurrences. Changes in the weather such as the ones mentioned below are thought to create a chemical reaction in the brain that sets the serotonin levels off balance bringing about a painful migraine headache. Chronic migraine sufferers often note an increase in migraine activity during weather and climate changes. Research on the weather and its direct influence on migraines is still under research, therefore it is suggested that migraine sufferers keep a headache journal noting which weather changes bring on migraine headaches and symptoms. Weather related migraines are often noticed when the following changes occur:

 Mostly Bright Sunshiny Days
 High Humid Air
 Barometric Changes
 Windy weather can trigger migraines due to the wind changing the pressure in the ears
 Hot and Cold weather changes
 Rainy Weather
 Dry Air

Natural Treatments
Even in knowing that prescription meds are the chief choice of most practitioners, consult with your primary care physician to see which migraine treatment is the right one for you. Here are a couple of the migraine treatment options available:

• Acupuncture – We have come a long way from stone needles used before recorded history to the sophisticated needles we use today. Yet, the same result is achieved. Using these needles placed along certain parts of the body, the Chinese have proven a successful method to removing pain i.e. migraines from one’s life.
• Massage Therapy – A trained massage therapist can use their hands to work out the tension in one’s neck and back muscles which can be leading cause or triggers of migraine headaches. The sub-occipital muscles, which start at the lower base of the skull and run to the bottom of the spine, are in direct correlation with the migraine trigger aspect of these muscles. One thing that must warned against here is that a deep-tissue massage or Swedish massage can actually increase the intensity of the migraine instead of minimizing the effects.
• White Willow Bark Extract – White willow bark is a tree native to parts of Asia and gets its name from the color of the tree’s leaves. This has been a treatment for centuries. Before the renaissance, people were advised to take a piece of the bark and chew on it to help relieve fever and inflammation. Now, thanks to modern studies, further information on the White Willow Bark has been uncovered shedding further light on how one can pick a natural answer for treating aches, pains, fevers, inflammation. The active substance salicin found in white willow bark has since been used to formulate aspirin. The herb is still used today to treat several mild conditions and is often preferred over aspirin because it is less acidic and easier on the stomach lining. Studies have shown that White Willow Bark could be a useful treatment for the following conditions:

o Bursitis
o Headache
o Lower Back Pain
o Flu
o Tendonitis
o Fever

Tags: constipation, Depression, emotional stress, Fatigue, migraine triggers, Migraines, natural migraine treatment, strange food cravings, triggers